Comparison between Matched Related and Alternative Donors of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplanted into Adult Patients with Acquired Aplastic Anemia: Multivariate and Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

We retrospectively compared the outcomes of 225 patients with adult acquired aplastic anemia (AA) who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) from matched related donors (MRDs), and those treated by alloHSCT from alternative donors (ADs). Univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with survival were performed. Multivariate analysis showed that age at alloHSCT of ≤31 years, MRD, successful engraftment, absence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), and platelet engraftment at ≤21 days, were independent predictors of longer survival. In addition, time to aGVHD and cumulative nonrelapse mortality (NRM) were better in MRD than in AD recipients. Using propensity score matching (PSM), we performed a case-control study comparing 25 patients in each group who underwent alloHSCT from MRDs and ADs. Pretransplantation clinical factors were well balanced in either group. Median survival time was similar, and no statistically significant difference in transplantation outcomes was apparent when MRD and AD recipients were compared. In conclusion, our results suggest that alloHSCT from an AD should be considered earlier in adult patients with AA who do not have an MRD

Simple and Accurate Capacitance Modeling of 32nm Multi-fin FinFET

In this paper, we investigate capacitive effect of multi-fins FinFET using the TCAD simulations. The analysis of the capacitance change is performed for the fin pitch and height variation in 32nm single gate FinFET. The analysis results show, as expected, that the increasing fin pitch (Pfin) variation leads to decrease in the coupling capacitance. And increasing height of the fin (Hfin) leads to increase in the capacitive coupling and total gate capacitances. Simple and accurate coupling capacitance models for both pitch and height variations of the three fins FinFET are proposed and verified with TCAD results

Study on frictional behavior of carbon nanotube thin films with respect to surface condition

Abstract In this work, tribological characteristics of thin films composed of entangled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated. The surface roughness of CNT thin films fabricated via a dip-coating process was controlled by squeezing during the process with an applied normal force ranging from 0 to 5 kgf. Raman spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the thin films were obtained to estimate the influence of the squeezing process on the crystallinity of the CNTs. The analysis revealed that squeezing could reduce surface roughness, while preserving the crystallinity of the CNTs. Moreover, the surface energy of the cover glass used to press the CNT thin film was found to be the critical factor controlling surface roughness. A micro-tribometer and macro-tribometer were used to assess the tribological characteristics of the CNT thin film. The results of the tribotest exhibited a correlation between the friction coefficient and surface roughness. Dramatic changes in friction coefficient could be observed in the micro-tribotest, while changes in friction coefficient in the macro-tribotest were not significant

The Effects of Sulglycotide on the Adhesion and the Inflammation of Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a primary etiologic factor in gastric diseases. Sulglycotide is a glycopeptide derived from pig duodenal mucin. Esterification of its carbohydrate chains with sulfate groups creates a potent gastroprotective agent used to treat various gastric diseases. We investigated the inhibitory effects of sulglycotide on adhesion and inflammation after H. pylori infection in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS cells). H. pylori reference strain 60190 (ATCC 49503) was cultured on Brucella agar supplemented with 10% bovine serum. Sulgylcotide-mediated growth inhibition of H. pylori was evaluated using the broth dilution method. Inhibition of H. pylori adhesion to AGS cells by sulglycotide was assessed using a urease assay. Effects of sulglycotide on the translocation of virulence factors was measured using western blot to detect cytotoxin-associated protein A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) proteins. Inhibition of IL-8 secretion was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the effects of sulglycotide on inflammation. Sulglycotide did not inhibit the growth of H. pylori, however, after six and 12 hours of infection on AGS cells, H. pylori adhesion was significantly inhibited by approximately 60% by various concentrations of sulglycotide. Sulglycotide decreased H. pylori virulence factor (CagA and VacA) translocation to AGS cells and inhibited IL-8 secretion. Sulglycotide inhibited H. pylori adhesion and inflammation after infection of AGS cells in vitro. These results support the use of sulglycotide to treat H. pylori infections

The association of dietary vitamin C intake with periodontitis among Korean adults: Results from KNHANES Ⅳ

<div><p>Backgrounds</p><p>The association of dietary vitamin C (vit C) on periodontitis requires more valid evidence from large representative samples to enable sufficient adjustments. This study aimed to evaluate the association between dietary vit C intake and periodontitis after controlling for various confounders in the representative Korean adult population</p><p>Method</p><p>A total of 10,930 Korean adults (≥19 years) from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data set were included in this cross-sectional study. Periodontitis was defined as community periodontal index score of 3 or 4. Dietary vit C intake was estimated from a 24-hour dietary record, and categorized into adequate and inadequate according to the Korean Estimated Average Requirement value. Potential confounders included age, sex, income, frequency of tooth brushing, use of floss, dental visit, drinking, smoking, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and obesity. A multivariable logistic regression analysis and stratified analysis were applied.</p><p>Results</p><p>Those with inadequate dietary vit C intake were more likely by 1.16 times to have periodontitis than those with adequate dietary vit C intake (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.16, 95% confidence interval = 1.04–1.29). Lowest and middle-low quartile of dietary vit C intake, compared to highest quartile of dietary vit C intake, showed significant association (aOR = 1.28 and 1.22 respectively), which was in a biological-gradient relationship (trend-p <0.05).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Our data showed that inadequate dietary vit C intake was independently associated with periodontitis among Korean adults. Hence, adequate intake of dietary vitamin C could be substantially important on the promotion of periodontal health among Korean adults.</p></div